GARY SMITH AND OUTRAGEOUS ACTS IN PETERBOROUGH
Update 16/01/2025: Gary Smith, 52, was spotted by a member of the public committing the act near the play area in Grove Street, Fletton, on 31 July.Officers arrested Smith after finding him laying down with his trousers and belt undone.
Smith has a criminal behaviour order (CBO) until 2029 that stipulates he cannot attend public parkland or gardens.
He admitted breaching the CBO but denied outraging public decency.
However, on Wednesday (14 January) at Cambridge Crown Court, Smith, of no known address, changed his plea to guilty concerning the second count.
At the same hearing he was jailed for 22 months.
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A registered sex offender from Peterborough has been sentenced to prison after being caught twice performing indecent acts in public places within the city.
The individual's disruptive and unacceptable behaviour drew the attention and concern of local residents, leading to police intervention and ultimately his incarceration.
Gary Smith, aged 48, had been subject to strict sex offender notification requirements since December 2013, and his activities have been closely monitored by the force's Public Protection Unit (PPU).
Despite these measures, Smith was found engaging in inappropriate conduct on two separate occasions, which provoked community outrage and prompted law enforcement action.
The first reported incident occurred on the evening of May 16 of the previous year.
Just after 6 pm, a man walking with his teenage daughter along Henry Street became suspicious of Smith’s behaviour as he noticed him sitting on a wall.
The man observed Smith with his hand down his trousers.
Sensing that something was amiss, the man quickly took his daughter and their dog back home for safety.
However, he later returned to the scene and confirmed his suspicions.
This time, he saw Smith with his hand down his trousers once more, raising concerns about his conduct.
A few days later, on Queens Walk, a woman walking with her children and a friend recognised Smith from a social media post.
She knew him to be a registered sex offender.
As she and her group passed by him, she observed Smith sitting on a wall, and upon closer interaction, an argument ensued after Smith smiled at one of her children.
When confronted, Smith became threatening in his demeanour, further escalating the situation.
The situation escalated again on August 9, prompting police to respond.
Officers were called to the scene after witnesses reported seeing Smith engaging in a sex act outside his temporary accommodation near a children’s play park.
Upon arrival, the police detained Smith.
During police interviews, he claimed that his reason for standing outside was because he was feeling hot, and that he had his hand down his trousers because his hands were cold.
His excuses did little to mitigate the seriousness of his actions.
Gary Smith was formally charged and admitted to two counts of outraging public decency as well as a third count involving threatening words or behaviour.
His conduct was deemed deeply inappropriate, especially considering his status as a registered sex offender, and the impact it had on the community.
On Thursday, at Peterborough Crown Court, Smith was handed a sentence of two years in prison for his crimes.
The court’s decision was a reflection of the gravity of his behaviour and the importance of safeguarding the public, particularly vulnerable minors.
Detective Sergeant Andrew Lunn emphasised the importance of community vigilance and police responsiveness, stating, “Smith’s behaviour was disgraceful.
I’d like to thank the members of the public who didn’t feel it was quite right and reported what had happened.
We robustly manage registered sex offenders who are living in the community and take any further offences extremely seriously.
We are committed to making Cambridgeshire a safer place for everyone, with child protection being one of our top priorities.”
